Cambodia denies troops using Preah Vihear temple

Cambodia calls claim of soldiers at temple slander

Feb. 8, 2011
By TODD PITMAN
Associated Press

PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia — Cambodia angrily rejected a Thai accusation that its Cambodian troops used an historic 11th century temple along their disputed border as a military base, revving up a war of words Wednesday amid a fragile truce.

The mountaintop Preah Vihear temple, designated as a World Heritage site, was the scene of fierce artillery battles during a four-day flare-up of a long-standing border dispute between the two neighbors. The fighting left at least eight dead and dozens wounded.

Shrapnel from the blasts chipped away at some of the sanctuary's ancient walls, sparking a debate between the two sides over how much damage was done and who is to blame.

Thailand accuses Cambodia of stationing soldiers at the temple and firing across the border at Thai soldiers, leaving them little choice but to retaliate.

Soy Sopheap showed that Hun Xen's boasting about Chumteav Bun Rany was nothing but a lie ... Gasp!!!

In Preah Vihear, Hun Xen boasted that his wife is an important army commander because she is constantly concerned about border troops welfare ...
... Meanwhile, Cambodian border troops are begging Soy Sopheap to help provide for a dam to store water for their daily needs (All photos: DAP)

Hun Xen: Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Xen is an important army commander

Saturday 06 February 2010
DAP news
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy

PM Hun Xen praised Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Xen, his missus, saying that she is an important army commander who is his house companion.

In general, Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Xen is always concerned about the welfare of troops stationed in Preah Vihear temple who are defending our territories from our enemy’s aggression.

… but, wait, if Chumteav Bun Rany is so concerned about welfare of the troops, why is Soy Sopheap from DAP news reported the following:

Cambodian troops stationed in Veal Entry (near Preah Vihear temple) had to beg for help through Soy Sopheap

Friday 05 February 2010
DAP news
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy

Troop commander and troops stationed in Veal Entry (Eagle Field) asked for help from generous donors both inside and outside the country to build a dam in this area to store water for their daily needs. Trough this appeal, the troop commander in Veal Entry asked Soy Sopheap, the director of DAP news, to help inform generous donors from both inside and outside the country to help provide for their needs.

In the afternoon of 05 Feb 2010, Major Nou Sarath, the commander of Veal Entry, told a group of DAP reporters led by Soy Sopheap who traveled to the spot that they want a dam to store water for the daily use of troops stationed there. Major Nou Sarath said that he and the troops need about $5,000 to built this dam which would measure 8-meter long by 5-meter wide and 2-meter high. He said that if such dam exists, troops stationed there could use water all the time, and he hopes that the publication of this appeal will lead people, including Soy Sopheap, to help provide funds for the soldiers to build this dam.

Soy Sopheap said that he will do his utmost to publish this information to raise the needed funds.

Cambodian troops in Preah Vihear on 18 July, 2008

Cambodian General Srey Dek (left) talks to Thai Colonel Chayan Huay Soongnern at a pagoda near the Preah Vihear temple. Thailand has sent more military reinforcements to a disputed part of the Cambodian border, after the tense four-day standoff nearly erupted into gunfire.(AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)
Cambodian soldiers guard the Preah Vihear temple beneath a Cambodian flag, on the border with Thailand, July 18, 2008. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Thursday a border row with Thailand was "worsening" and urged the immediate withdrawal of Thai troops from a disputed ancient temple. In a letter to Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, Hun Sen said the stand-off at the Preah Vihear temple was "very bad" for relations, but he still hoped to "resolve the problem through negotiations" at a border meeting on Monday. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodian soldiers talk while on patrol at Cekakiri Svarak pagoda in the Preah Vihaer temple compound, along the Thai-Cambodian border July 18, 2008. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Thursday a border row with Thailand was "worsening" and urged the immediate withdrawal of Thai troops from a disputed ancient temple. In a letter to Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, Hun Sen said the stand-off at the Preah Vihear temple was "very bad" for relations, but he still hoped to "resolve the problem through negotiations" at a border meeting on Monday. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Cambodia seeks Japan's help in Sudan peace mission [-Cambodian troops in Sudan under tense situation]

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen walks past a demining unit, during a ceremony before the departure of the Cambodian humanitarian demining unit for the UN peace keeping operation in Sudan, in Phnom Penh April 12, 2006. (Reuters)

03/08/2008
BY KAZUTO TSUKAMOTO,
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN (Japan)

Cambodia wants Japan's support for the Southeast Asian nation's first U.N. peacekeeping mission, which is becoming increasingly tense due to fighting in Sudan, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh said Friday.

Tea, who is also the Cambodian national defense minister, told The Asahi Shimbun in Tokyo that Cambodian troops sent to southern Sudan "have not yet been directly attacked, but the situation is tense."

About 300 Cambodian Army corps engineers have been sent to Malakal in southern Sudan, mainly for demining, since April 2006, according to Tea.

The Cambodian troops, which have been cooperating with troops from India and Bangladesh, have removed a total of 1,613 mines so far, he said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura has proposed that the Self-Defense Forces be sent to Sudan to participate in the U.N. peacekeeping mission. But the security situation will likely lead to further calls in Japan for a more cautious approach.

"Cambodia will continue to fulfill its duties in peacekeeping operations with the cooperation of Japan," Tea said.

He asked for continued support from Japan in terms of fostering human personnel for peacekeeping operations.

"Japan sent a peacekeeping mission to Cambodia and now Cambodia has sent such a mission to Sudan," Tea said. "If Japan and Cambodia can cooperate in Sudan, it would mean a new page in the history of peacekeeping cooperation between Japan and Cambodia."

Japan first sent SDF members on a U.N. peacekeeping mission in 1992 to Cambodia.

But in Sudan, the situation is so unstable that the legal conditions under which SDF members can be dispatched on peacekeeping missions may not be met.

For example, SDF members cannot be sent on peacekeeping mission to areas that are considered combat zones.

In addition to mortar attacks near where the Cambodian troops are housed, fighting has broken out about 6 kilometers from a site where mines were being removed, Tea said.

The fighting forced the Cambodian troops to suspend peacekeeping activities for 15 days.

The troops have been helping local residents who were victims of the mortar attack.